Early start from December

[whole diary]

[John R]

Why?

[Btline]

They are better than Central Trains, but I agree Mookie, the staff can be rude at times.

[willc]

I also checked and the 0542 is going forward to Great Malvern and so this is the reason it is later.

Fine and dandy, if it actually ever gets to Malvern, given that for much of the early part of this year, even reaching Foregate Street was beyond it, but doesn't get away from the fact that at what is a busy time of day for travel, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have created a one hour, 40-minute hole in the service towards Oxford and London (from 07.26 to 09.06). While the previous gap from about 8.35 to 10.35 and current one from 9.35 to 11.25 wasn't/isn't great, they at least put a gap in the service at a more logical point in the day, in terms of people's broad travel patterns, than this change will do.

A depot at Worcester is to be welcomed though. The sooner the better, to bring an end to the miles of empty running and staff getting up at dead of night, then being at work for several hours before they actually move a single passenger.

as long as it's a three car I don't personally think capacity will be a problem.

Maybe not beyond Oxford, but I stand by my view that there will be times of the year when it will not be up to the job on the first leg of the journey, if it is just a three-car Turbo. My other thought, looking at when it will get back to Oxford (16.49), might it actually be a two-car, split off a five-car formation at Oxford, as then it could head out of Oxford again at 17.31 as the halts train?

[Btline]

Have you considered the Bicester diagrams, which may as you said, be split off at Oxford?

They have made the "school children" train from Worcester towards Evesham too early as well (currently 1606 which is just about ok) at 1602.

They will loose trade.

Let's hope the redoubling will occur, and then the gaps and slack can be reduced! Please sign the petition if you have not yet!

[Lee]

Main highlight of the new service is that the first train of the day will now start back at Worcester Shrub Hill (at 05.02) before picking up the existing path from Moreton-in-Marsh. I'm guessing this duty's set will now run ecs from Bristol to Worcester, rather than the existing arrangement of travelling out empty from London to Moreton.

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website (02/10/2008) :

05:51 Moreton-In-Marsh to London Paddington due 07:29

This train will be started from Oxford.It will no longer call at: Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.

[willc]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website (02/10/2008) :

05:51 Moreton-In-Marsh to London Paddington due 07:29

This train will be started from Oxford.It will no longer call at: Moreton-In-Marsh, Kingham, Charlbury and Hanborough.This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
[/quote]

Taxis were provided from Charlbury, which apparently got people into Oxford just in time to catch the 05.36 from Worcester (06.37 from Charlbury), so they might just as well have stayed put!